Golf in the Groove

Today is the first of four days of golf tournament hijinks here in The Groove.  Those wacky golfers have begun to arrive in all their thousands.  The real estate business is getting its hopes up, as evidenced by a plethora of ads in our local paper depicting the most lavish and extravagant homes for sale around Pebble Beach, Carmel, Big Sur and Carmel Valley.  Golf promoters here are holding their collective breath and praying the weather will be mild and conducive to full rounds of golf every day.  Locals laugh, "When is the AT&T coming?  Must be soon; the weather is horrible." 

While I was swimming today, the MetLife blimp buzzed overhead, making its way from the local airport to begin circling over the three courses hosting play.  I waved.  We locals are friendly and have all had our shots.  We get excited when the private jets roar overhead.  We don't mind; it reminds us that money is coming and business will be good.  Besides, they'll all go away again in a few days and we can get back in the groove. 

Many of us are volunteering as marshalls on the courses, doing our best to keep the bewildered fans herded nicely away from private homes, sand traps and cliffs.  An item in the local paper today stated that a Giant Surf contest at Mavericks (Half Moon Bay's Pillar Point) north of here is set to go on Saturday.  "We're 99% sure we can have a contest." was the quote, indicating that 40-foot waves were almost guaranteed for Saturday.  Sure, it's north of here by 100 miles, but I'm thinking a pretty good surge is going to show up on our coast, too, which could add a few gray hairs to the heads of course marshalls during the tournament.  A lot of Pebble Beach is played right alongside the ocean, which acts as a major "hazard."  So, golf fans, watch out for a little extra sea foam during play.  It will be very picturesque.  We just don't want any visitors to be swept away unexpectedly. 

In addition to the golf event, this weekend also includes Valentines Day and Chinese New Year.  I would think this might be a real challenge for chefs:  Chinese Golfing Valentines Day celebration fare.  Dim Sum shaped like pink golf balls?  Fore!